Jaipur Ready To Welcome Pravasi Diwas Guests

Jaipur: Preparations are in full swing in this Rajasthan capital for the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas (PBD) diaspora conclave Jan 7-9, an official said Thursday. PBD-2012 will see participation of President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, several union ministers and chief ministers and some 1,300 NRIs from 54 countries across the globe. Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissesaar will be the chief guest. At a high-level review meeting, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot directed the officials to expedite the pending works. He wanted important monuments and government buildings in the city to be lit up during the PBD. A control room has been opened at the Birla Auditorium which will operate round the clock for the guests. He also asked police to make arrangements for swift flow of traffic during the event. The beatification work of the Rajasthan capital, known as the Pink City globally, is in full throttle. Various bodies in the city, including the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) and Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC), are working day and night to make the city look lavish and clean. A JMC official said wall paintings and lighting on government buildings have been completed and few small things will be finished by Friday. Meanwhile, an official of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the PBD’s organising partner, told IANS that sessions on issues like water, solar energy and gender issues will be organised from Jan 7 to Jan 9 at Birla Auditorium here,” the told IANS. Elaborate security arrangements have been made keeping in view of the visit of several VVIPs. Manmohan Singh, Gehlot and Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi will address the inaugural session followed by the keynote sessions by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia. Chief ministers of Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala too are also likely to participate .